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Introduced Version Senate Resolution 43 History

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SENATE RESOLUTION 43

(By Senators Gaunch, Ferns, Karnes, Romano, Cline, Sypolt, Swope, Boso, Stollings, Plymale and Prezioso)

[Introduced March 20, 2017]

 

Recognizing West Virginia native Homer Hickam, United States Army veteran, famed author and dedicated public servant.

Whereas, Homer H. Hickam, Jr., was born on February 19, 1943, the son of Homer and Elsie Hickam, and was raised in Coalwood, West Virginia; and

Whereas, Homer Hickam graduated from Big Creek High School in 1960 and from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering; and

Whereas, Homer Hickam served our country as a First Lieutenant in the Fourth Infantry Division in Vietnam in 1967-1968, where he was awarded the Army Commendation and Bronze Star medals. Mr. Hickam served six years on active duty, leaving the service with the rank of Captain; and

Whereas, After returning from his service in Vietnam, Homer Hickam began his writing career in 1969.  His first book, Torpedo Junction (1989), was a military history best seller published in 1989 by the Naval Institute Press; and

Whereas, Homer Hickam is a New York Times #1 best-selling author of several books that bring honor to the great State of West Virginia and its citizens, including, The Coalwood Way, Sky of Stone, We Are Not Afraid, Red Helmet, his latest international best seller, Carrying Albert Home and his classic, Rocket Boys, which is one of the most read books in the United States school system and was the basis for the major motion picture October Sky; and

Whereas, In addition to his career as an author, Homer Hickam was employed as an engineer for the U. S. Army Missile Command from 1971 to 1981 assigned to Huntsville, Alabama, and Germany. He began employment with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at Marshall Space Flight Center in 1981 as an aerospace engineer. During his NASA career, Mr. Hickam worked in spacecraft design and crew training. His specialties at NASA included training astronauts on science payloads and extravehicular activities. He also trained astronaut crews for many Spacelab and Space Shuttle missions, including the Hubble Space Telescope deployment mission, the first two Hubble repair missions, Spacelab-J (the first Japanese astronauts), and the Solar Max repair mission. Prior to his retirement in 1998, Mr. Hickam was the Payload Training Manager for the International Space Station Program; and

Whereas, Homer Hickam is the recipient of the Appalachian Heritage Writer’s Award for his memoirs and fiction, holds an honorary Doctorate of Literature from Marshall University and is a proud Knight of the Golden Horseshoe, which demonstrates his knowledge of West Virginia history; and

Whereas, From growing up in McDowell County, West Virginia, to the present day, Homer Hickam has had many amazing life experiences, including carrying the Olympic torch, teaching David Letterman to scuba dive, flying with General Chuck Yeager and training NASA astronauts for SpaceLab and SkyLab missions; and

Whereas, Homer Hickam returns to West Virginia each year where he participates in the annual Rocket Boys Festival held in Beckley and has supported this, and various other charitable endeavors, through the years for West Virginia; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby recognizes West Virginia native Homer Hickam, United States Army veteran, famed author and dedicated public servant; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate hereby extends its sincere gratitude and appreciation to Homer Hickam for representing and promoting the great State of West Virginia at his numerous personal and media appearances all over the world; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Homer Hickam.

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